The bird proved to be very responsive to a whistled imitation of the call, and we were soon enjoying great views of the little chap.
The nets proved adept at catching Forktails - we caught a family of Slaty-backed - but there was no sight nor sound of any whistling-thrush.
A Buff-breasted Babbler - their 'pitchew' calls are a ubiquitous sound at Fraser's Hill but they are frustratingly difficult to see well.
Mountain Tailorbirds are another common songster at the Hill, but these are the first decent pictures I have managed to get of an adult.
This juvenile looks quite a bit different from the adults.
Black Eagles were seen quite frequently today - this adult...
...and a rather closer subadult carrying a clump of foliage for some unknown reason.
After drawing a blank at the top gate, we decided to divide the troops, leaving some nets at the top gate, and taking others to set up at Jeriau Waterfall, another well-known whistling thrush stake-out. Jeriau is an interesting locality, because there are reports of both Blue and Malayan from the site. Eventually, after several hours wait, we heard the familiar high-pitched call of a whistling thrush, and a bird alighted in the picnic area below the waterfall.
The heavy build, bill and headshape, as well as the pale spots on the median coverts, identified this bird as a Blue. Interestingly it also sported an aluminium ring, presumably from the Wildlife Department. One of several Slaty-backed Forktials we caught was also wearing a Wildlife Department ring.
At dusk we were serenaded by the lilting call of Malysian Eared Nightjars high overhead.
According to the book "Raptors of the World" and other literature, the Black Eagle is a known nest-robber, hence the slow soaring flight close over the forest canopy when it scans for the nests of birds. What your photos have captured is a successful raid by a Black Eagle on some bird's nest. This species is known to carry off the entire nest and devour the contents somewhere else.
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